A Couple of Thoughts, in no Particular Order

Alright, let me start off by saying, its 5:15 on April 8, 2010 and It. Is. SNOWING. I really don't have anything else to say about this other than fml.

Also, today as I was driving home from the many errands that I was running today, I started making a list of some of my recent favorite things in my life. So I thought I might share them with you.

1. Full Serve Gas Station. More specifically, Co-op. What is it about full serve that is just so good? Could it possibly be the fact that all you have to do it pull right up to the pump, roll down your window and merely state the amount you are willing to spend on gas that day while the attendant does the rest of the work? Laziness FTW.

2. Calgary Public Library. What is more wonderful than entering into a building and being surrounded by words, music, photos and film. Sure, they aren't as inspiring as finding a tiny book shoppe on a back street in some picturesque old town, but for 12$ a year and only a 2 minute drive from my house, it might as well be. I find myself there AT LEAST once a week. I have become addicted to "I Love Lucy" dvd's and just today borrowed my first "book on CD". "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. So far its very interesting, I have been listening to it all afternoon while I re-organized my room, I think this will become a new habit of mine, listening to books while cleaning, or cooking. This will make me extra productive, excellent.

3. Baking. Yes, I love it.

4. Shopping for Kitchen Stuff/Bathroom Stuff/House Stuff. Homesense is my go to place for this, I am really good at finding amazing stuff on the clearance shelves, like my recent purchase of 4 stem-less wine glasses.

5. Wine. I have finally found a red wine that I enjoy (Jackson Triggs - Pinot Noir), and I am pleased to announce that I drank the whole bottle (quite the accomplishment, with the help of my beautiful new glasses). I also am always a fan of a good Gewürztraminer, delish!

6. Alone time. Love it. It's my re-fueling time.

Away from Her

Last night, I finally decided to sit down and watch the movie "Away from Her". I heard about this movie last year, and have been putting off watching it because of its subject matter. It is about a couple in their early 60's who are very much in love, Grant and Fiona. Early on it is discovered that Fiona has the beginnings of Alzheimer's and it quickly progresses to the point where she decides she wants to be put in a care facility. One of the rules of this facility is that once Fiona is admitted, Grant cannot come to visit her so that she can properly adjust to her new surroundings. When he finally comes to visit he realizes that she does not remember him, and not only that, but she has also formed a close attachment to another patient there named Aubrey. Day after day Grant comes to visit his wife, only to have to watch her with another man.

My heart broke watching this movie, I cried and cried and cried and cried. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am not an emotional movie watcher, but this one hit me hard. There are a couple reason for this:

a) I have a history of this in my family.

b) I have a close family member who I believe has been showing warning signs of this disease.

c) In the past year, I have become more sensitive to the relational bond between two people known as love.

d) I find myself more and more being able to experience the emotions that others are going through (i.e. your spouse no longer remembering who you are and having to watch them fall in love with someone else).

A and B are the reasons I did not want to watch this movie, even though I know its a Hollywood interpretation of sorts, I was scared. I saw a lot of similarities in the behaviour of Fiona and that of my family member whose memory seems to be failing. I was also made even more so aware of how hard it is to watch see the light go out of someone you love so dearly. I have so much more respect for all those who are touched by this disease. So, as sad as I found the whole movie, I was able to gain strength from it, and be encouraged...sorta.

Tuesday's with Chai.

I am sitting here is Starbucks, attempting to start/finish my final Mount Royal essay until my spring semester begins. These past four weeks I have been taking a course with them which focuses on Faith-based Organizations (FBOs) in international community development. Pretty fascinating class actually as I am finding my faith being challenged and stretched every time I read a fellow classmates essay. It has been a long time since I have been in a secular school setting, and it has definitely taken some adjustment on my part. Especially in this course, I am finding myself continually frustrated and at times even angry with some of the things people have to say about religious organizations. Its almost as if I feel like their criticism is aimed directly at me! Often before I comment on their work, I find myself having to take a "cool down" moment first as to not completely lash out in a rebuttal against them. I am also amazed to see how just through the outlet of words, I can clearly see who in my class is a believer and who is not. I have connected with this one women who also has Alliance affiliations, and I really enjoy reading her work, knowing that I have something in common with at least one of my classmates. Anyway, it has been an interesting course, and now having completed 4 of them, I can definitely feel my thinking being changed and opened up to all the issues around me and how I can be used to make a difference!

I really should be getting back to writing this essay, but I feel like I need to practice my procrastination skills for a bit, make sure they are up to snuff! I have this cute middle aged couple sitting across from me. They both have a coffee, copies of today's Metro newspaper and are doing the crossword together. Secretly, I think they are racing to see who can complete it first. Every once and while I see them talking about possibilities for one of the answers, pretty cute if you ask me. Seriously, sometimes I just don't know how married people do it, staying together for 50+ years, HOW do they not run out of things to say and do together?! But as I sit and observe I can see that it is small activities like this that even though they may seem so trivial, they can be the cornerstones of a long lasting and fulfilling relationship. It's like, their "thing".

Also, I would just like to bring up yet again, spring is DEFINITELY here. I have deducted this fact due to the abnormally high amount of babies I was surrounded by in church this past Sunday, and the fact that I know of at least four people who have had babies in the last week! And now, I have a slight case of baby fever.

Ok, last comment, and then it's time to get back to schoolwork (*SIIG*). I promise, soon, soon, very soon I will put up pictures of some of the wonderful things I have baked in the last couple of weeks. I wouldn't say that breads are a strength of mine yet, but I did make some pretty tasty apple dumplings the other day! (Side Note: If you have not already done so as a child, the watching of "The Apple Dumpling Gang" is a great way to relive your childhood in the times of the great old west, as well as becoming familiar with the delicious apple and pastry treat! Don Knotts is gold in this.)